Production Manager

Job Description

The Production Manager is responsible for leading and overseeing manufacturing operations at our Automotive Seating facility in Warren, Michigan . This role provides leadership to production teams, ensuring the safe, efficient, and cost-effective production of high-quality products that meet customer requirements. The Production Manager drives operational excellence through continuous improvement, workforce development, quality management, and strong cross-functional collaboration.

This position requires a hands-on leader who can effectively manage people, processes, and performance while maintaining a strong focus on safety, quality, delivery, and cost objectives.

Key Responsibilities

Operational Leadership

• Lead and supervise salaried production personnel across assigned manufacturing areas.
• Manage day-to-day production operations to ensure customer requirements, production schedules, and business objectives are achieved.
• Oversee the flow of raw materials through manufacturing and assembly processes while maintaining operational efficiency.
• Monitor production performance and implement corrective actions to address operational challenges.
• Ensure accurate production reporting and documentation.

Team Leadership & Workforce Development

• Develop, coach, and mentor leaders and team members to enhance performance and support succession planning.
• Foster a culture of accountability, engagement, collaboration, and continuous learning.
• Conduct performance evaluations, provide regular feedback, and support employee development initiatives.
• Promote effective communication across all levels of the organization.

Continuous Improvement

• Lead and support continuous improvement initiatives focused on productivity, efficiency, quality, and cost reduction.
• Utilize Lean Manufacturing, Kaizen, and Six Sigma methodologies to drive operational excellence.
• Identify process improvement opportunities and implement sustainable solutions.

Quality Management

• Ensure products meet all customer and company quality requirements.
• Partner with Quality and Engineering teams to investigate root causes and implement corrective actions.
• Support quality audits, customer expectations, and plant quality objectives.
• Drive a culture of quality throughout the production organization.

KPI & Financial Management

• Monitor and manage key performance indicators (KPIs) related to safety, quality, delivery, productivity, scrap, downtime, and labor efficiency.
• Utilize data-driven decision-making to improve operational performance.
• Support budget development and manage departmental spending to meet financial targets.
• Maintain a strong understanding of manufacturing costs and overall business performance.

Safety & Compliance

• Maintain a safe and productive work environment by ensuring compliance with all company safety policies and procedures.
• Conduct regular workplace audits and inspections.
• Promote a culture of safety and continuous risk reduction.
• Ensure compliance with customer, regulatory, and company operational standards.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Partner with Engineering, Quality, Maintenance, Materials, Human Resources, and other departments to support plant objectives.
• Lead efforts to resolve production issues and improve plant performance.
• Support new product launches, operational changes, and customer-driven initiatives.

Required Qualifications

• 5-10 years of management experience in a manufacturing environment.
• Minimum of 10 years of overall manufacturing experience.
• Proven experience leading and developing salaried and hourly teams.
• Strong leadership, coaching, and workforce development skills.
• Excellent communication, problem-solving, and strategic-thinking abilities.
• Demonstrated experience managing KPIs and driving operational performance.
• Strong understanding of manufacturing financials, budgeting, and cost management.
• Experience with quality systems, root cause analysis, and corrective actions.
• Continuous Improvement and/or Kaizen certification required.
• In-depth knowledge of Just-In-Time (JIT) manufacturing principles.

Preferred Qualifications

• Automotive manufacturing experience.
• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Operations Management, Business, or a related field.
• Six Sigma Green Belt or Black Belt certification.
• Lean Manufacturing certification and experience.
• Experience managing large-scale production operations within a high-volume manufacturing environment.

Work Schedule

Must Be Available To Work 2nd Shift

• Monday – Friday
• 2:15 PM – 10:15 PM

Additional overtime may be required based on customer demand, production schedules, and business needs.

PRIMARY LOCATION

Bridgewater Interiors II